Convertible tool



May 12, 1936. A SHAFFER CONVERTIBLE TOOL Filed July 10, 1935 ATTORNEY WITNESS Patented May 12, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The invention relates to a tool and more especially to a combination or convertible tool.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a tool of this character, wherein the same is adaptable either as a screw driver or as a plug wrench and when serving as a screw driver the screw operated upon can be held so that a positive and a straight screwing action by the screw driver member is assured and in this manner eliminating the necessity of the hand guiding of the screw when being initially set in the work or during the screwing home thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tool of this character, wherein the plug wrench will be held positively engaged with work and associated with the tool is an electric light so that in the use thereof in hidden or dark places the tool can be successfully operated when used as a screw driver or a wrench.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a tool of this character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and emcient in its operation, readily and easily converted, strong, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tool in use as a screw driver.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the wrench member for the tool, it being separated from adjuncts thereof.

Figure 3 isa fragmentary sectional view showing a nut worked upon by the wrench member of said tool.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the tool comprises a screw driver member A including a straight shank l0 having formed at one end a screw engaging tip or blade while at the opposite end is a handle |2 as is customary. This shank l0 of the member A is slidably fitted in a guide eye or sleeve 12 formed from an ear |3 separably receiving a pivot bolt l4 swingingly connecting it between convergent side arms of a substantially U shaped bracket l5 to the closed flat end N5 of which is pivoted by a pivot bolt ll a pair of crossed hand operable levers l8, these carrying handles |9 close to the handle |2 of the shank I0 and are formed with parallel jaw ends disposed at right angles to the said levers |8 for clamping therebetween a screw or the like 5 2|, the jaws at the inner sides thereof being formed with outstruck seats 22 for the screw 2| tohold it in a. position for alignment with the blade I of the shank ll) of the screw driver member. This blade II as usual is engaged in a 10 cross cut 23 in the head of the screw so that the latter may be turned for the driving home of the said screw or its removal from a piece of work. The jaws 23 notonly serve as a clamp or holding and guide means for the screw 2|, but also as a 15 rest or support for the tool.

Surrounding the shank IU of the screw driver member A and working against an abutment washer 24 upon said shank and seated upon the latter next to the blade I! is a coiled expansion spring 25, it being also seated against a washer 26 on the shank I0 next to the guide sleeve l2 which under the expansion of the spring rests against the said sleeve l2 and this spring serves to feed the screw driver member A against the screw 2| when the same is being driven home in a piece of work. Thus the screw driver member A when engaged with the screw 2| and the latter is clamped by the jaws 20 will be held in contact and in feeding relation to the screw.

The levers I8 next to the jaws 20 are outwardly bulged as at 21 and to these bulged portions are fixed hangers 28 for a coiled retractile spring 29 functioning to draw the jaws 20 toward each other to have the same clamp the screw 2| when arranged between the jaws. The screw 2| is released from the jaws 20 when the levers l8 are operated to spread the said jaws apart.

In lieu of the screw driver member A there can be attached to the bracket l5 the ear 3!! having the guide sleeve 3| for slidably holding the stem 32 of a plug or socket wrench. This stem 32 is fitted at one end with a fiat faced head 33 functioning as a plug wrench and such head is engageable with a socket unit 34 for wrench action upon a nut 35. The stem 32 at the other end carries a handle 36 similar to the handles l2 and I9 excepting that there is pivoted to this handle 35 a swinging handle extension 31 which is capable of being thrown at right angles to the handie 36 to give leverage in the operation of the stem 32 during the use of the plug or socket wrench.

Upon one of the levers I8 is detachably and adjustably clamped a holder 38 for an electric lamp 39, it having the usual electric cord 40 and separable terminal plug 4| so that the latter can be inserted in an electric plug socket for supplying current from an electric light source to the lamp 39 for illumination or the lighting thereof, the holder 38 being adjustable for the projecting of the light on to the screw 2| or nut 35 in the use of the tool as a screw driver or wrench by conversion thereof so that in either event the part worked upon will be clearly visible to the user of the tool either in a hidden area or during darkness.

What is claimed is:

A tool for the purpose set forth, comprising a, pair of crossed levers having handle ends and parallel jaw ends which are arranged at right angles to the levers, a bracket extending parallel to the direction of the jaw ends and pivoted to the levers at the point of crossing of said levers, a sleeve pivoted to the bracket, a tool shank rcvolvably in and longitudinally movable through said sleeve, spring means urging the shank in a direction towards the jaw-ends and spring means connected to the levers for influencing the jaw ends thereof toward each other.

AARON SHAFFER. 

